MAINE PUBLIC • December 1, 2021
Jonesport residents on Wednesday night voted to put a six-month hold on a proposal that could make the town a mini-Cape Canaveral. The 60-to-4 vote at a special town meeting gives residents time to create an ordinance for aerospace facilities, after a Brunswick company called bluShift Aerospace proposed a small-bore rocket-launch site on an island off the mainland. Jonesport Select Board member Harry Fish says townspeople are interested in the economic opportunity, but there is also concern that local lobstermen might lose time at sea during launches, or have to contend with pollution from rocket fuel. bluShift CEO Sascha Deri says, "We want to work around folks that are making a living off of the waters. We don't want to impact their ability to generate an income or revenue from working the waters.”